Keel structure



1967 A. J. M. LAURENT 3,336,890

KEEL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 16, 1966 INVENTOR. ANDRE J. M. LAURENT ATTOK/VE V5 United States Patent 3,336,890 KEEL STRUCTURE Andre J. M. Laurent, Price Ranch, Los Alamos, Calif. 93440 Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,669 4 Claims. (Cl. 11439) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a sailboat having a main hull and a fixed outrigger an auxiliary float mounted on the main hull by means of a fore and aft pivot connection whereby the float remains substantially upright in the water as the main hull heels, said auxiliary float having a trailing rudder-keel pivoted to the float with means for turning the rudder on a vertical axis to steer the boat.

This invention relates to a double-ended sailboat and generally represents an improvement on the type of boat shown in my prior Patent No. 3,173,395.

In my prior patent, I showed a sailboat having a main hull and an outrigger thereon, which boat was capable of sailing in either direction. In this structure a doubleended hull was used so that in tacking it was not necessary to bring the boat about but the boat would merely be changed in direction at the beginning at each tack. In such boat wherein a combination rudder keel is directly fastened to either the main hull or outrigger fixed thereto, there is always some loss of keel action as the boat heels. Thus, as the boat heels the rudder keel is no longer normal to the surface of the water and assumes an angle thereto, rending it less eifective and giving the boat a tendency to swing about into the wind.

In accordance with the present invention an improved structure is provided wherein the rudder keel is not fastened to the main hull or to a fixed outrigger but instead is pivoted to a float which is in turn pivoted to the hull of the vessel. Thus, as the vessel heels the float stays upright in the water and rudder keel remains substantially normal to the surface of the water so that it does not lose its effectiveness as the boat heels.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sailboat embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end view on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an alternate method of attaching the float to the hull, providing for and adjusting the angle of the float with the hull.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a boat having a hull 3 and an outrigger 5 with rigid connections 7 and 9 therebetween. The boat has two masts 11 and 13 with the usual sails 15 and 17. The rigging has not been shown since it forms no part of the present invention. Further, although two masts have been shown, this is merely for purposes of illustration since the present invention is equally applicable to boats having any number of masts. A seat 19 is provided for the sailor, and this preferably pivoted on one end as at 21 with the opposite end resting on a semicircular track 23, facilitating operation in either direction.

The structure forming the gist of the present invention will now be described. Floats 25 and 27 are provided which are substantially identical in structure so that only one will be described in detail, Each float is connected by means of the arms 29 and 31 to pivots 33 and 35 on the hull of the vessel. It will thus be seen that as the vessel 3 heels, the float can remain flat in the water pivoting around the points 33 and 35. Float 27 is provided with a rudder block 39 connected thereto by means of a pivot 41. The pivot 41 is substantially horizontal; although it may be inclined slightly into the wind as is shown in exaggerated form in FIGURE 2. The pivot block 39 carries a rudder 43 mounted on the pivot 45. A suitable tiller 47 extends from the rudder block 39 for steering the vessel. Normally the tillers for fore and aft rudder blocks would be interconnected as is well-known to those skilled in the arts.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to adjust the angle which the rudder makes with the hull rather than using a fixed angle as described above. One suitable structure for accomplishing this is shown in FIGURE 3. Here a rod 53 extends between the pivot blocks 33 and 35 with arms 55 extending therefrom. Each arm 55 has a fixed extension 57 which is pivoted to the float 5 and a second extension 59 which is fastened to the float as shown. Extension 59 has an upper adjustment nut 61 and a lower adjustment nut 63 so that the effective length can be changed. The net result is that the angle which the rudder makes in the water can be adjusted for maximum efficiency.

It can be seen from the structure thus described that the float 27 will be substantially flat on the surface of the water even if the vessel heels. As the vessel heels and the block stays level, the rudder 43 maintains its angle with the surface of the water and therefore does not lose its effectiveness as the vessel heels.

The rudder 43 is the type described in my prior patent and trails behind the vessel. As the vessel changes direction, such a rudder automatically falls to the rear and trails.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide an auxiliary holder for the rudder block and not depend entirely upon flotation by the float 27. In this case, a spring 51 may be employed between the rudder block 39 and the main hull 3 to partially support the weight of the rudder assembly. Obviously, the spring 51 should not be strong enough to completely support the rudder assembly since this would largely defeat the purpose of the pivoted assembly.

Although it has been assumed that the vessel has a single large hull and an outrigger, it is apparent that the invention would be equally applicable to a vessel having two or more hulls of equal size as in a catamaran.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a highly effective form of floating rudder keel which does not lose its effectiveness as the vessel heels.

I claim:

1. A sailboat having a main hull and a fixed outrigger hull afiixed thereto comprising in combination:

(a) a small auxiliary float,

(b) an arm connecting said float and said main hull, said arm being fixed with respect to said float and being pivoted in a fore and aft direction with respect to said hull whereby the float is free to remain substantially upright in the water as the main hull heels,

(c) a trailing rudder horizontally pivoted to said float and r 3 4 ((1) means for turning the rudder on a vertical axis to References Cited Steer the boat- UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the horizontal pivot is inclined slightly away from the main hull. 189,459 4/1877 Herreshofi 114-39 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein a spring extends 5 2585599 2/1957 Tclletchet 11461 from the float to the main hul1,' said spring partially sup- 3,035,537 9/1962 Smltl} 114-236 porting the float on it pivot connection. 3,265,026 9/1966 Hamllton 11461 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a-djustin means I is provided whereby the angle of the rudder with the hull MILTON BUCHLER lma'y Examiner can be adjusted. T. M, BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SAILBOAT HAVING A MAIN HULL AND A FIXED OUTRIGGER HULL AFFIXED THERETO COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A SMALL AUXILIARY FLOAT, (B) AN ARM CONNECTING SAID FLOAT AND SAID MAIN HULL, SAID ARM BEING FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FLOAT AND BEING PIVOTED IN A FORE AND AFT DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID HULL WHEREBY THE FLOAT IS FREE TO REMAIN SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT IN THE WATER AS THE MAIN HULL HEELS, (C) A TRAILING RUDDER HORIZONTALLY PIVOTED TO SAID FLOAT AND (D) MEANS FOR TURNING THE RUDDER ON A VERTICAL AXIS TO STEER THE BOAT. 